In what has to be the most self-serving, passive-aggressive celebrity apology yet, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have posted a joint mea culpa for “character letters” they wrote on behalf of former “That ’70s Show” co-star and convicted double-rapist Danny Masterson.
Looking as though they were yanked out of their bed at 3 a.m. by the Cancel Carabinieri and marched in front of the camera, the disheveled duo explained that they feel the pain of rape victims and were only trying to help “Danny’s family” when they wrote character letters for the guy they “knew for 25 years” to influence his sentencing with the judge.
Their apology may have been more effective if it didn’t look like “hostage videos,” as independent journalist Kyle Becker characterized their production.
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apologize for supporting their friend Danny Masterson. They’re being canceled for writing letters in support of him as character witnesses.
pic.twitter.com/a2KZZeapce— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 10, 2023
“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher, 45, began.
“We support victims,” chimed in Kunis, 40, right on cue. “We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.”
On Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo sentenced Masterson, 47, to 30 years to life for raping two women in his Hollywood-area home in 2003, at the height of his sitcom fame.
“The sentence was the maximum allowed by law,” according to the Associated Press. “It means Masterson will be eligible for parole after serving 25 1/2 years, but can be held in prison for life.”
Judge Olmedo reminded Masterson, an avowed Scientologist who has maintained his innocence, that he is not the victim.
“Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s voice, and choice,” the judge told him at his sentencing. “One way or another you will have to come to terms with your prior actions, and their consequences.”
Kutcher explained that they wrote the letters for “Danny’s family.”
“A couple months ago, Danny’s family reached out to us and they asked us to write character letters to represent the person that we knew for 25 years so that the judge could take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing,” he said.
“The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling,” Kunis added. “They were intended for the judge to read. And not to undermine the testimonies of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way.”
“We would never want to do that,” Kutcher stated. “And we are sorry if that has taken place.”
“Our heart goes out to every single person that has ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape,” Kunis concluded.
“You two are down right disgraceful!!” exclaimed one user on X in response to the actors’ video. “Writing a letter to a judge in support of a rapist, because you knew him!!”
“Omfg you two have children for God sakes!” the user continued. “Would you have written the letters if one of your children were raped by your friend Danny!! You don’t support victims liars!”
“Even a new rendition of ‘Imagine’ along side Gal Gadot would be better than this,” said another. “Maybe the other apologists from the 70s show could be back up singers. Finish it all off, by donating a $500,000 to the Church of Scientology in the names of the victims.”
“So staged,” said a third. “Their look, their pre-printed words, their forced, anguished faces.
“Phony.”
You two are down right disgraceful!! Writing a letter to a judge in support of a rapist, because you knew him!! Omfg you two have children for God sakes! Would you have written the letters if one of your children were raped by your friend Danny!! You don’t support victims liars! https://t.co/DiFbFwUR6A
— @Trump2024/LOB (@Tammymaybe1) September 10, 2023
Even a new rendition of “Imagine” along side Gal Gadot would be better than this. Maybe the other apologists from the 70s show could be back up singers. Finish it all off, by donating a $500,000 to the Church of Scientology in the names of the victims. https://t.co/i5nE8SQTxK
— Håkon M. Sivertsen (@BetConsultant) September 10, 2023
So staged. Their look, their pre-printed words, their forced, anguished faces. Phony.
— Tamra Kelly (@tlynkelly) September 10, 2023
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